Opponent: Sacramento Republic FC
Match Date: October 26
Location: Heart Health Park
Kickoff: 8pm MT
How to Listen: XTRA Sports 1300am with the Voices of the Switchbacks, Ryan Kaufman and Roland Vargish – coverage starts at 7:30pm MT.
Coach Chambers’ Comments: “[It was a] good win [against Monterey Bay]. [It was a] good, professional performance, and for large parts of the game I thought we did really well, whether we were in possession or out of possession. So [it was] really positive – a good result – but a new week now. We’ll have everybody in contention [for the trip to Sacramento]. Obviously some [players] are a little bit more fatigued at this stage of the season, but that’s only natural [and] we’ll manage them appropriately as Saturday approaches and [we’re] looking forward to a good game.
“[We don’t take too much] to be honest [from the 2-0 loss to Sacramento Republic on April 6th]. It was so early in the season. We’ve evolved [and] they’ve evolved, so the teams have changed [a lot]. Personnel [are also] in different forms. So, we’ll do our due diligence as we always do and prepare for what we’re about to face. “I think [Sacramento] gets goals from all over [the team]. They’re pretty strong on set pieces [and their] attacking players and wingbacks chip in with goals. They’ve got [Luis] Felipe from midfield, so they have threats [from] all over the field. “We can get so caught up with all the [different playoff scenarios] so we push that to the side and focus on the game and make sure that we try and put on another performance on the road similar to last week [in Monterey]. And [we have to] make sure we improve from where we were last week, and ultimately it should lead to a good game with both teams looking to win it. Hopefully, it’s one for the neutral but we’ll make sure that we’re ready to put on a performance and hopefully go and win the game.”
Vargish’s View: Last Saturday’s 1-0 win at Monterey Bay has put the Switchbacks in a position to control [most of] their own playoff destiny. If Memphis 901 FC does not beat top-seeded New Mexico United tomorrow evening in the Land of Enchantment, the Switchbacks will be assured of a home match to begin their run in the 2024 USL Championship Playoffs. Other [confounding at times] Playoff permutations remain but suffice to say the Switchbacks will be singularly focused on going to California’s capital city and capturing three points. Sacramento deserved their 2-0 victory over the Switchbacks on April 6th, and that victory at Weidner Field gives the Republic the head-to-head tiebreaker for playoff positioning, should Saturday’s opponents draw and thus end the regular season tied on points. And yes, pondering all these seeding scenarios is about as edge-of-your-seat as a beanbag chair. All that matters at Heart Health Park is the Switchbacks continuing the stout defensive effort and game-plan implementation they displayed in last weekend’s victory over Monterey Bay. Limiting Sacramento’s high-powered attack is the primary focus, with the Switchbacks knowing a solid defensive foundation can lead them not only to a home playoff match but a potential journey well into November.
